TPWD 2012-2013 Legislative Appropriations Request Fact Sheet

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department submitted its Legislative Appropriations Request for the 2012-2013 biennium to the Legislative Budget Board on Aug. 23.

TPWD’s base budget for 2012-2013 is proposed to stay about the same, incorporating the 5% cut required by the LBB for 2010-2011.

However, alongside the LAR, we provided a required schedule of optional cuts totaling 10% of general revenue funds, about $48.9 million. These are not proposed cuts; they are options for lawmakers to consider as they balance the state budget:

$11.9 million from funds transferred to the General Land Office

$3.7 million from TPWD withdrawal from state Data Center Consolidation

$300,000 in Off-highway Vehicle permit revenue

$5.7 million in Local Park Grants for city and county park projects

$26.9 for state park capital development, including Hurricane Ike repairs at Galveston Island

$300,000 in Fund 9 capital construction at wildlife, law enforcement and fisheries sites

In the LAR, our agency is also asking for increased funding for 2012-2013 in the form of five Exceptional Items totaling about $64 million. These include:

$50 million for capital construction of new facilities and repairs to current facilities at state parks, wildlife management areas and fish hatcheries, continuing efforts supported by the legislature and state voters in recent years

$1.1 million for additional costs related to state Data Center Consolidation (this would not be needed if TPWD cuts the $3.7 million noted above and withdraws from the DSC project)

$10.7 million for law enforcement security and communication, including in-vehicle automation for park peace officers and game wardens and expanded statewide radio communication system infrastructure

$2 million in authority to allow TPWD to spend Game Bird Stamp fund balances for habitat enhancement and public hunting opportunities

$350,000 for an additional patrol boat for game warden border security